Desperate Exodus: Thousands Flee Lebanon to Syria Amid Israeli Airstrikes

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is ramping up its efforts to assist the increasing number of displaced individuals.

Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian civilians are fleeing Lebanon for Syria in a desperate attempt to escape the devastating impact of Israeli airstrikes. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is ramping up its efforts to assist the increasing number of displaced individuals.

At the Syrian border, long queues of vehicles stretch for miles, with many arriving on foot, carrying only what they can. Large groups, including women, young children, and infants, have spent the night outdoors in plummeting temperatures, with some arriving bearing fresh injuries from the recent bombardments.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, condemned the escalating violence, stating, “This bloodshed is extracting a terrible toll, driving tens of thousands from their homes. It is yet another ordeal for families who previously fled war in Syria, only now to be bombed in the country where they sought shelter. We must avoid replaying these scenes of despair and devastation. The Middle East cannot afford a new displacement crisis. Protecting civilian lives must be the priority.”

At border crossings, UNHCR and partners, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, are providing essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to those arriving, while guiding them towards available support once they enter Syria. The humanitarian situation in Syria is already critical, worsened by the 2023 earthquake and the ongoing conflict, which has left crucial infrastructure in ruins and millions in need of assistance.

According to Lebanese authorities, over 27,000 people have been displaced in just the past 48 hours, with the numbers continuing to rise. The latest hostilities have resulted in 558 deaths and 1,835 injuries.

UNHCR is actively coordinating with local authorities and other humanitarian organizations to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced people throughout Lebanon. Their teams are prepared to provide shelter, healthcare, and psychosocial support to the growing number of civilians fleeing the airstrikes.

Lebanon currently hosts approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees, in addition to over 11,000 refugees from other countries.